6 native plants that thrive in winter

Some of us tend to neglect our love for getting our hands dirty in the garden during the winter months. It’s cold and wet – so motivation can be lacking to get out there. It’s also a time when native plants are furthest from your mind, with many Australians associating native plants with hot dry conditions. With a little thought however, it’s easy to create some stunning and colourful displays over winter with native plants.

Firstly, it’s important not to forget the foliage characteristics of some plants. Plants can bring new dimensions to your garden if you give some thought to foliage colours and textures. Three great examples areAcacia ‘Limelight’, Syzygium ‘Big Red’ and Leptospermum ‘Fore Shore’. All bring colour and depth into the garden but in different ways.

Big Red

‘Big Red’ is a great medium sized Lillypilly. Its deep red new growth really sets off the plant with the tips having a dark crimson glow about them. This variety is fast growing and makes the perfect hedge specimen – great for screening the neighbours or hiding the shed. You can trim it to any shape you like and it is also widely used as topiary specimen.

Limelight

‘Limelight’ is a favourite for opposite reasons. This dwarf form of Acacia cognata is renowned for its attractive lush foliage. You’ll love its bright lime colour. ‘Limelight’ is compact and dense and great for both modern and traditional gardens.

Fore Shore

Leptospermum ‘Fore Shore’ can really be considered the native answer to low hedging. This fantastic alternative to the traditional English Box hedge. With outstanding resilience to the harshest of coastal conditions, ‘Fore Shore’ tolerates salt sprays and salt laden winds. It has a great grey-green foliage and bronze coloured new growth. A great solution for coastal areas, poolside plantings and narrow spaces.

Fire Cracker

If you’re after flowers during winter to add that dash of interest, there are some great low growing natives available. Grevillea ‘Fire Cracker’ has a compact, rounded habit with small evergreen leaves. This one is soft to the touch, unlike many other Grevilleas. ‘Fire Cracker’ boasts an extensive flowering period, typically coming into bloom in late April through until October. The explosion of fiery red and yellow flowers makes a stunning show over a long period.

Deuagold

Grevillea ‘Deuagold’ is another bright beauty. With rich gold flowers adorning the plant for most of the year it really peaks over the winter months. Named for its origins near the Deua National Park in NSW, ‘Deaugold’ is superb performer in tough landscape conditions.

Canberra Bells

Finally it’s definitely worth mentioning this year’s official plant of the Centenary of Canberra. Correa ‘Canberra Bells’ was chosen to commemorate this important national occasion. Add it to your garden and enjoy its spray of bell shaped red and cream flowers from March into early winter.

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